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Underground > Temple >

Self Initation

21:00 / 06.03.04

Hey all yall! I have newly become a member of Barbelith and am really impressed with the depths of knowledge of everyone on this board! Anyways, I have begun working with the book; 'Self Initation into the Golden Dawn Tradition'. I'm still working on the preliminary excercises (Themis rituals) and wondering if anyone else out there has worked through the book and had any experiences (good/bad). Is working solitary as good as being a part of an actual GD temple? I am really feeling MUCH different (for the better) after having been performing the LBRP daily for a little over a month now. I would like eventually to possibly be a part of an actual temple, but the few people I have met with affiliation or knowledge about the GD either creep me out or strike me as superficial Goths. I can't stand the whole vibe that alot of occultists/magicians have. It's almost seems like by being interested in Magick one must be interested in the whole goth/industrial image & scene. Personally I like alot of the genere, but man, it can be as just superficial and image centered as any Britney Spears Gap party. Anyways, pardon my rant... Any tips on creating stronger images while visualizing the godforms? I have decided to continue working on each monthly excercise until I have memorsed it's entirity. Everytime I have to look at the book my visualisation weakens a bit.

21:33 / 06.03.04

If you ask me, which, by the way, you didnt, you will do just as good on your own. You may just as well study the golden dawn tradition, or anything else really, by yourself. Ofcourse, sharing your experiences and that kinda stuff is always wise. But you dont have to join the GD to do that. You can, for example, do it her. Any particular reason why you want to join the GD?

22:41 / 07.03.04

Well, I guess my reason for wanting to be a part of an actual 'temple' would be, I guess, for a stronger experience. I was doing the BOTA correspondence course, I finished with the tarot course (which was AMAZING) and decided to take a step back and outward to see what the GD was about. Paul Foster Case (who founded the BOTA) had his roots in the GD, as well as Crowly (of course). My interest in the Golden Dawn is that it seems to have the best outlined order for esoteric study, magick, and spiritual evolution. From all of the reading I have done, it seems that coming into contact with one's Holy Guardian Angel is where it's at. I guess ultimately I want what it seems is the purpose of Magick in general; to be in touch with my higher self, let go of any internal self imposed walls, and become a better person in general. I think my main reason fo wanting to be a part of an Order would be to have a bit more of an outlined curriculum of study. I have read quite a bit on my own, but I always wonder if I am actually going about it in a good way- there is just soo much to take in. I want to be sure to get a good foundation in the basic concepts, ect.